Wire stretcher



July 1 1924. 1,499,993

J. M. MARTIN WIRE STRETCHER Filed March 5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l /,f- Ignuenioz JMrZZh.

. J. M. MARTIN WIRE STRETCHER Filed March 5, 1923 2 sn'tusaineez 2Patented July 1, 1924.3

STATES Parser OFFICE.

JAMES M. MARTIN, 0F HARTLEY, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIAMGAPEI-IEABT, 0F VANDERVOORT, ARKANSAS.

Application filed March 5,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that JAMES M. MARTIN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Hartley, in the county of Polk andState of Arkansas, has invented certain new and useful Improvements inWire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire stretcher and has for its principalobject to provide a means whereby the stretching of a wire fence may befacilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher of theabove mentioned character, which is of a construction where by the samemay be easily set up for stretching a wire fence and renders the samecollapsible, so that the wire stretcher may be folded up and transportedfrom place to place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wire'stretcherof the above mentioned character, which is simple in con struction,inexpensive, strong and durable and well adapted for, the purpose forwhich it is adapted.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the same Figure 1 isa side elevation showing the wire stretcher in use.

Figure 2 is anendelevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the construction of the brace bar.

Figure 5 is a detail View showing the construction of the wire fenceclamping means.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the baseupon which is supported my wire stretcher and the forward end of thebaseis hollowed out so as to provide a curve portion 2 whereby the base mayfit snugly in position against a fence post 3.

- A brace 4 is hingedly mounted at its lower end to the base 1 as shownmore clearly at 5 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper end of the brace4 is also hollowed out to provide a curved upper end 6 similar to thecurved forward end '2 of the base 1 for the purpose 1 wrnn s'rnnrcnnn. pi

1923. Serial No. 622,887.,

of permitting a positive fit against the upper end of the fence post 3to which the Wire fence is stapled. This brace A is provided with alongitudinal slot 7 therein for the purpose hereinafter to be more fullydescribed and is furthermore provided with spaced apertures 7 along itslongitudinal side edges.

Adapted to be detachably supported in the aperture 7 formed in the braceA are a number of flanged spools 8. These flanged spools 8 are supportedupon suitable pins 8 which are adapted to fit snugly in the aperturedopening 7.

A pair of spaced angularlugs 9 and 10 are. secured to the base 1adjacent its forward end 2 and are held in position upon the base 1 byany suitable fastening means 11.

The upper ends of the angular lugs 9 and 10 are provided withregistering apertures 12 and 13 and these registering apertures 12and'13 communicate with the apertured end of a stretcher bar 14.

This stretcher bar 14 is supported upon the base 1 in such a manner thatits apertured end 15 is adapted to be received between the spacedangular lugs 9 and 10 and in such a manner that the apertured opening inthe lower end of the stretcher bar 14 will register with the apertures12 and 18 formed in the angular lugs carried by the base 1.v A suitablep-intle for bolt 16 is adapted to pass through the apertures 12, 13 and15 respectively and receive the nut 17 upon its threaded end forpivotally supporting the stretcher bar. The stretcher bar 1 1 isprovided with a plurality of spaced hooks 18 on its inner longitudinalside and is also provided with a hook 19 on the opposite side adjacentthe top thereof.

'Before the stretcher bar 1a is placed in position upon the base 1 it isadapted to be passed through the longitudinal slot 7 formed in the brace4 so that the same is slidably associated therewith.

A plate 20 is secured at the opposite end of the base 1 and is widerthan the base 1 so as to have its side edges extending a slightdistance'beyond each side 'of the base 1. The plate 20 is provided witha pair of upstanding spaced cars 21 and 22 respectively and these ears21 and 22 are provided withapertures 23 and 2A in their upper ends. Aboltor shaft 25 is adapted to be received gageinent with the ratchetwheel 28 carried byithe shaft The double acting pawl 30 is provided soas to cause the ratchet wheel 28 and the drum 26 associated therewith tobe rotated'in either direction. the ca:

" may be.

A pair of auxiliary spaced lugs 32 and are mounted upon the plate 20 andthese auxiliary spaced lugs 32 and are provided with registering openins 34 and 35 for the purpose of receiving a pin This pin 36 pivotallysupports a locking finger or lug 37 which has a square end portion 38which is adapted to engage the cogs formed in the ratchet wheel 28 forho ding the same in position so as to preventthe unwinding of the drumand cable.

A small pulley 39 is pivotally mounted upon the plate 20and is pro idedat its 'opposite end with the apertured eye 40 for re ceiving andsecuring one end of a'suitable cable or rope 41. Th pulley 39 isprovided with the usual pulley wheel so as to receive the cable 41 andact as a guide for the cable. A block or pulley frame 42 having a hook43 r at its upper end for supporting and engagend of the clamp 45.

ing the hook 19 carried by the upper end of the stretcher bar 14 isadapted to be held in a suspended position thereon and is provided withpair of pulley wheels 44 for the purpose of receiving and guiding thecable 41. The opposite end of the cable 41 is secured to the drum 26 andis adapted to be wound thereon in a manner that will be hereinafter morefully described.

T he fence wire clamping ineans associated with my wire stretchercomprises a clamp 45 and provided in the enlarged end of the clamp anenlarged opening 46. In the opposite end of the clamp 45 is secured oneend of a chain 47 and the opposite end of the chain 47 or any of thelinks comprising the chain 47 is adapted to be supported upon thestretcher bar by means of engagement with the spaced hooks 18 arrangedin the inner longitudinal'side of the stretcher bar 14. A lug 48'isprovided in the enlarged end of the clamp 45 so as to have its forwardend or fre fend 49 which is flanged to extend into the aperture 46provided in the enlarged On the face of the clamp 45 adjacent the lug 48I pivotally mount or support thereon at 50, a latch 51 and this latch 51is adapted'to'swing upon the clamp 45 for the purpose to be laterdescribed.

In order to hold the wir stretcher in a stationary position when in theprocess of stretching a wire fence,.the. plate 20 which is provided withthe sides which extend beyond the sides of the base 1 is adapted toreceive suitable anchoring stakes 52 and 53 respectively in apertures 54and 55 respectivel formedin the extended sides of the plate 20 and thesestakes 52 and 53 are adapted to be driven into "the ground for holdingthe wire stretcher in position. The stretcher bar 14 is provided withthe hooks 18 on its inner longitudinal side edge forthe purpose ofreceiving the linked chain 47 which carries the clamp 45 at its forwardend and as many of these clamps 45'1nay be used as is necessary toaccommodate and stretch each strand of wire comorisin the wire fence sothat the wire fence may be stretched in one operation, that is to sayeach strand of wire is stretched simultaneously with the other strand soit is not necessary for the operator to first attach the wire stretcherto one strand of wire and after the same has been stretched to thenrelease the same and place it upon the next strand and repeat the sameprocess.

In use. the wire stretcher is set up in position shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawings and the strand of the wire fence 56 are passed through theenlarged aperture formed in the clamp 45 and is bent around the free end49 of the lug 48 which extends into the enlarged opening 46 of the clamp45. The wir 56 is then passed through the aperture 1-6 so as to come outupon the face of the clam 45 and the latch 51 is then swung over thefree end of the strand of wire 56 and frictionally holds and clamps thewire upon the clamp 45. When in this position the clam 45 is hooked ontothe hook 181331- ried by the stretcher bar 14 and the pulley frame 42 isthen hooked upon the opposite side edge of the stretcher 14 upon thehook 19 and the lever 29 is then operated so thatthe pawl willengage'the ratchet wheel 28 so as to cause the drum 26 to wind the cablethereon and while in such operation the stretcher bar 14 will be causedto move or swing rearwardly and forward towards the drum 26 and while insuch movement will cause the strand of wire 56 to be stretched. Thelocking finger or lug 3? will hold the drum in position so as to preventthe unwinding of the cable upon the drum 26 and thereby hold thestretcher bar 14 in its adjusted or stretched position. In this mannerthe operator can staple the strands of the fence wire 56 to the fencepost 3 more easily and quickly. The spools 8 which are arranged on theside of the brace 4 are adapted to act as guide rollers for the fencewire when the same is being stretched and fur thermore keep the strandsof wire in proper position while the same are being stretched, so. as toassure the proper alinement of, the strands of wire 56 when the same areabout to be stapled or secured to the fence post 3.

It will be seen from the foregoing descrip tion that wire. fencestretcher has been provided wherein the strands of the wire fence may bestretched simultaneously and more quickly and easily furthermore, eachstrand of wire is so stretched as to take up any slack which may occurin the wire fence.

The structure of my wire fence stretcher enables it to be readilycollapsed and set up in position for use and does not necessitate theemployment of a number of men to operate the same. Furthermore, itsefiiciency can be readily appreciated and its simplicity in operationalso renders it valuable for use in stretching wire fences of Va riouskinds,

From the foregoing description of the c0nstruction of my improvedapparatus, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensiveand eflicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention, andwhile I have particularly described the elements best adapted to performthe functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes inproportion, form and in the minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theprinciples of the invention.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A wirefence stretcher including a base, a stretcher bar pivotally mounted onsaid base at one end thereof, a brace pivoted to said base and slidablyassociated with said stretcher bar, fence wire clamping means carried bysaid stretcher bar, and means on the opposite end of said base foroperating said stretcher bar.

2. A wire fence stretcher including a base, a stretcher bar pivotallymounted on said base at one end thereof, a brace pivoted to said base,said brace having a longitudinal slot for receiving the said stretcherbar, fence wire supporting members on the side edges of said brace, andfence wire clamping means carried by the fence stretcher bar, and meanson the opposite end of said base for operating said stretcher bar.

3. wire fence stretcher, including a base, a stretcher bar pivotallymounted on said base at one end thereof, a brace pivoted to said base,said brace having a longitudinal slot for receiving the said stretcherbar, fence wire supporting members on the side edges of said brace,fence wire clamping means carried by said stretcher bar, a drum on theopposite end of said base, a cable on said drum and associated with saidstretcher bar, an operating lever for winding said cable on said drum,and operating the stretcher bar.

4. A wire fence stretcher including a base, a stretcher bar pivotallymounted on said base at one end thereof, spaced hooks on theinnerlongitudinal side of said stretcher bar,

a brace pivoted to said base, said brace having a longitudinal slot forreceiving said stretcher bar, fence wire supporting members spacedlymounted on side edges of said brace, fence wire clamping meansassociatedwith the hooks 011 said stretcher bar, a plate on the oppositeend of said base, a windlass supported on said plate, a pulley wheelswivelly mounted on said plate, a second pulley carried by the upper endof the stretcher bar, a cable secured to the first mentioned pulley andassociated with the two pulleys and secured at its opposite end to thewindlass for operating the stretcher bar and wire fence clamping means.

5. A wire fence stretcher including a base, a stretcher bar pivotallymounted on said base at one end thereof, spaced hooks on the innerlongitudinal side of said stretcher bar, a brace pivoted to said base,said brace having a longitud'mal slot for receiving said stretcher bar,fence wire supporting members spacedly mounted on said edges of saidbrace, fence wire clamping means associated with the hooks on saidstretcher bar, a plate on the opposite end of said base, a windlasssupported on said plate, a pulley wheel swivelly mounted on said plate,a second pulley carried by the upper end of the stretcher bar, a cablesecured to the first mentioned pulley and associated with the twopulleys and secured at its opposite end to the windlass for operatingthe stretcher bar and wire fence clamping means, and anchoring meansassociated with the plate for holding the wire stretcher in a stationary position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' JAMES M. MARTIN,

